Guwahati, 5 June (HS): On the occasion of World Environment Day, Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma attended the program organized at Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra on Thursday on the initiative of the Department of Environment and Forests. On this occasion, he flagged off 129 vehicles allotted to the department. Also, the Chief Minister launched a web portal and also distributed weapons to the commandos of three battalions of Assam Forest Protection Force.
While talking to the media, the Chief Minister said that Assam is also celebrating Environment Day along with the world today. He mentioned the appeal made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in which citizens have been asked to plant a tree in the name of their mother. To facilitate this initiative, a portal has been started, in which citizens will be able to upload pictures of plantations and will also be able to add information about its growth from time to time. The Chief Minister said that the Government of India had set a target of planting 70 lakh saplings in the year 2024, which the Government of Assam crossed by planting 92 lakh saplings.
The Chief Minister said that the new portal is equipped with artificial intelligence and satellite technology, which will enable real-time monitoring of deforestation and land degradation. He informed that during the tenure of the present government, the third battalion of the Forest Protection Force has been formed and it has also been provided with weapons. Earlier the Forest Department did not have enough vehicles, overcoming this problem, 129 vehicles have been distributed today and new vehicles will be purchased in future as well.
Speaking of plastic waste management, the Chief Minister said that the Government of India is working towards a ban on single use plastic and the Government of Assam will also take steps related to it. He informed that about 600 mineral water bottling units have been set up by the youth of the state. The state government has already implemented a ban on 500 ml water bottles.
The Chief Minister also informed that biofuel production units are being set up in Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Silchar, Tezpur and Guwahati in collaboration with the Government of Assam and Oil India. Biofuel will be prepared from plastic waste in these units, which will help a lot in waste management.
On this occasion, Environment and Forest Minister Chandra Mohan Patwari, MLA Diganta Kalita, Special Chief Secretary (Forest) MK Yadav, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Forest Protection Force Chief Sandeep Kumar, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Dr. Vinay Gupta and many senior officials were present. --------------
Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash
